Backgammon (Tactile)
Product Features
- A terrific strategy game for players of all ages.
- Self-contained wooden playing board and tactile pieces.
- Adapted with raised lines, tactile dots, and color markings so the blind can play.
- 12-inch board folds for easy storage.
- Measures 10-1/4 by 6-1/4 by 1-1/2 inches when folded.
- A high-quality, hand-crafted set.
- Measures about 12-1/2 in by 10-1/4 in by 3/4 in.
- Package Weight: about 1.3 pounds.
Product Description
Backgammon is one of the oldest games known to man, and is played in almost every country around the world. It is said that you can learn the fundamentals of the game in thirty minutes, but it is a life's work to learn the secrets of the strategy of backgammon. Even when defeat seems certain the tide can change, and the underdog may win. Such is the continual intrigue and challenge of the game. With such rich history and wild popularity, we're excited to bring you this all-wood, hand-polished edition of this classic family board game.You start out by placing fifteen discs, called Men, on one inner table. Across the board, your opponent does the same. Then, by a throw of the dice, you begin to move your men, one at a time, into the dangerous outer table. If one of your men is Hit, he must wait on the bar (the raised line that divides the two tables) until you can move him off the bar and back into the fray. Slowly, slowly, more and more men make the trek over the bar, across the opposing outer table, and start to circle back on friendly territory. You're getting closer and closer to your own inner table - and your own resounding victory.
But the game is far from over. At any time one of your men can still be hit, knocked back to the Bar to try the perilous journey again. Worst of all, however, is the nagging possibility that the other player may be the first to move all his men into his inner table. Unthinkable! You must be the first to bear off all your men ... or lose it all!
This high-quality, hand-crafted wooden game is designed with blind players in mind. Tactile playing pieces, raised lines to keep pieces from becoming jumbled, and markings for colors make it a snap for players both with and without sight to join this wonderful game. Finally, the 12-inch board folds for easy travel, measuring only 10-1/4 by 6-1/4 by 1-1/2 inches when folded.
For ages 6 and up. And up and up and up.
How to Play Backgammon
Directions courtesy of Future Aids, The Braille Superstore.
Players: 2
Setting up the Game Board. The game board is divided into four parts with each player having both an "inner table" and an "outer table." Each table is divided into six "points" with alternate colors three each. Note also that the points of opposing tables are of contrasting color.
Object of the Game. Each player must move his men according to the numbers shown on the throw of two dice. He moves his men from his opponent's inner table along the playing board, across to his outer table, and finally into his own inner table. The dark and light pieces move in opposite directions.
The Play. The laws of backgammon say that each player throws one die in order to determine who goes first. If both players roll the same number they must throw again until one player has rolled the highest number. That player then goes first, using the numbers shown on the two dice--his own and his opponent's.
The players then throw in turn using their own dice. A player moves his men according to the numbers shown on the dice. Cocked dice means that one of the dice has not landed completely flat on the playing board. When this happens the player must throw again.
The numbers shown on the dice are considered individually and not in sum total. Thus, a player may move one man the whole throw as long as the points designated by EACH die are open, or he may move each of the two numbers with different men. A player MUST use both numbers of each roll whenever possible. If he can use only one number, he must, if possible, use the larger. If he cannot move at all play passes to his opponent.
Doublets. Doublets merely means rolling doubles, the same number thrown on both dice. When this occurs you move the number shown on one die four times. You can move the same man all four moves, or any other combination of men you choose.
Blocked Point. Any point on the playing board on which two or more men of the same player sit. The opposing player's men may not land on a blocked point, however they may move over the blocked point. Once a player has landed two men on any one point he is said to have "made the Point." There is no limit to the number of men one player may have on a point.
Blot. Any point on which a player has only one man. Since men of opposite colors cannot occupy the same point, when an opponent lands on a blot he removes the man that was there and replaces it with his own. This is then called a "hit." The removed man is placed on the bar.
Bar. The bar is the middle strip that separates the inner and outer tables. Once one of your men has been placed on the bar you must throw the dice when your turn occurs and you must enter into your opponents inner table BEFORE you may move any of your other men. Entering is accomplished by moving the man on the bar to the point indicated on either one of the die thrown as long as that point is not blocked. If you cannot enter because both points indicated are blocked the turn then passes to your opponent. A SHUTOUT or CLOSED BOARD occurs when your opponents inner table is completely closed (each point is covered by at least two men).
Bearing Off. Bearing Off means removing your men from the playing board by the roll of the dice. You cannot start bearing off until ALL 15 of your men are in your inner table. You may then either bear off men from points corresponding to die thrown or you may move your men within your inner table according to the numbers shown on the dice. You must use your entire roll, if possible. This means that if you roll a six, but have no men on your six point, you must take a man off the highest point which you do have men. The same rule applies if you roll doubles. However, you cannot bear off a man if the point indicated on the die is vacant and there are any men on a higher counting point. If while bearing off, a man in your inner table is "hit," that man goes to the bar and must reenter as described earlier. You cannot continue to bear off until you have managed to get this man who was "hit" back into your inner table.
Scoring. A game is won when either player bears off all of his men first. A gammon (double game) is won if your opponent has not born off any of his men. A backgammon, (triple game) is won if your opponent has not born off any of his men and has one or more men in the winner's inner table or on the bar.
